Tie wire clamp



Dec. 25, 1951 P. J. CORCZORAN k 2,579,650

TIE WIRE CLAMP Filed April 5, 1950 \q m N Envenlor WWW W GttornegsPatented Dec. 25, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TIE WIRE CLAMPPatrick Joseph Corcoran, Memphis, Tenn. Application April 5, 1950,Serial No. 154,078

4 Claims. I This invention relates to certain new and usefulimprovements in clamping means for concrete forms, and particularlyrelates to new and useful improvements in clamping means for tie wiresused in conjunction with such forms.

In concrete work it is customary to employ molds or forms for retainingthe concrete as it is poured in order that it may set properly, and tirewires, extending through the form and the concrete contained therein,have been employed on the line I--I of Fig. 3 showing the tie wire toretain the walls of the forms, particularly where footings ofsubstantial depth are to be formed.

Much diiliculty has heretofore been encountered in securely and properlyanchoring the tie wires and in retaining them with proper tension 1 soas to prevent bulging or sagging of the forms and effect retention indesired position.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a simple, efficientand economical device i for accurately and positively clamping form tiewires and for adjusting and maintaining tension on such wires.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie wire clamp whichmay be removably mounted exterior the concrete form and may be employedin one location and when the concrete at such location has set up may beremoved and applied to a different or new location.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable tie Wireclamp which is adaptable for use with wires of varying diameters.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and novelarrangement for positively engaging concrete form tie wires and forreadily disengaging the clamp from such wires when it is desired toremove the clamping device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tie wire clamp whichincludes a casing having a roller journalled therein, a traction memberjournalled and interposed over the roller, a clamping follower engagingthe traction member outwardly from its traction surfaces and means forclamping the traction member against the roller member.

And a further object of the invention is to generally improve thedesign, construction and utility of tie wire clamp means.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willreadily be understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view taken clamp of the presentinvention mounted upon a form and engaging a form tie wire.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the tie wire clamp of thisinvention; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as on the line III-III of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, the tie wire clamping means of the present invention areadapted for use in connection with a mold or form it of the typegenerally employed in concrete work for retaining the wet concrete forsetting, which form H, as is well known, includes side walls made up inconventional manner from a plurality of boards.

The form I! is provided with a, plurality of tie wires I3, one of whichis shown in the drawings, the tie wires being spaced at intervalsthroughout the form. It also is customary to provide spacers l 5 tolimit movement of the form walls toward each other. Preferably tie wiresl3 are anchored to the outer sideof one of the form walls, as at ll, andproject inwardly through the wall and across the space between thewalls, thence through the opposite wall and project outwardlytherebeyond.

The clamping device of this invention is adapted to be mounted on theform adjacent the free end of the tie wire l3, and the clamping meansconsist of a casing or housing It of generally rectangular crosssection, the front and rear walls of the housing being apertured as at2| to receive the free end of the tie wire 13.

The side walls of housing 59 are provided with elongated slots 23, 24,in the lower ends of which slots opposite reduced end portions of aroller member 25 are rotatably and slidably mounted. Superposed overroller member 25, and also rotatable and slidable in slots 23, 24, is atraction member 27 having a central corrugated zone or band 29, thewidth of the corrugated band being preferably slightly in excess of thediameter of apertures 2|. Traction member 21 adjacent the opposite endsof corrugated band 29 is provided with roller sections 3i which are freeof corrugations for the purposes hereinafter mentioned. The rollersections 3| lie adjacent the side walls of housing I9.

Traction member 21 outwardly of housing 19 is provided with an angularlyformed head 33, preferably of hexagonal shape as illustrated and adaptedto be engaged by a conventional. wrench or other tool for the purpose ofrotating the traction member.

Resting upon the roller sections 3i are the depending legs 35 of apreferably channel shaped follower 5-31.. Thefollower Si is freelymovable within housing is and the web of the follower provides a seatagainst which the lower end of an adjustable thrust member, illustratedas a screw 39, bears, the screw 39 being threadedly engaged with asuitable aperture formed through the top ofhousing it for adjustment andextension into housing i9. Preferably the housing 19 is provided with anaperture diagonally crossing an upper corner adapted to receive asuitable removable hanging means, such as nail -H, by which the housingmay be removably suspended from the side of form H.

;In the use of the device the free end of tie wire I3 is insertedthrough one of the housing apertures 2i and projected between thecorruigated band 29 of traction member 2'! and lower roller 25.The'housing and enclosed instrumentalities are moved closely adjacent toform 1.! and the housing is removably suspended from the side of theform through the use as of hanging nail 4|. With the device thuspositioned screw 39 is-tightened upon: follower 3'! bringing the legs 35into close engagement with roller sections 3! and clamping wire l3between-corrugated band 29- and roller 25. Tensionmay then be applied towire it by rotation of traction member 21 through the application of awrench or other suitable tool. to traction member head 33 and throughthe use of such tooleffecting rotation of the traction member As thesmooth roller sections 3! underlie the legs 35 of follower 3'! rotationof the traction member-is not prevented, the corrugated band 29 beingsegregated from engagement with the leg ends. As traction member 21 isrotated the corrugated band, which is clamped against wire I3 by theaction of screw 39 and follower 3-1, frictionally engages the wire anddraws it between the corrugated band and roller 25, satisfactorilyapplyingtension to the wire. When the desired tension has been appliedthe tool employed may be removed. from the traction member head 33 andthe engagement of follower legs 35 with the traction member in manyinstances will be adequate to prevent reverse rotation of the tractionmember. and roller member and will retain the wire in tensed condition.

If desired, as in cases of extra tension, additional tightening of screw39 may be accomplished effecting a tighter engagement of follower 31with the traction member and braking return or reverse rotation of thetraction member.

Preferably the device is provided on the side face adjacent the tractionmember head 33 with an abutment member 43 spaced from the head 33 so asto not impede the desired rotation of the head, but adapted to receive asupplemental removable abutment member, such as nail 45, which will fitwithin the space between the head 33 and abutment 43' and by engagingthe head 33 pre vents'undesired rotation. When the concrete in the formhas satisfactorily set up screw 39 may be loosened, unclamping the wireit, hanging slidable and rotatably supported by the sides of saidhousing, said traction member being provided with a central corrugatedtraction zone and opposite uncorrugated end portions adjacent saidsides, a follower within said housing overlying said traction member andslidable in said housing, said follower having an upper seatand a pairof spaced depending legs, said legs being respectively seateds on saidtraction: member end portions outwardly from said central zone, screwmeans threadedly engaging the top of said housing and extending throughsaid top for abutment with said follower seat to force said followerinto engagement with said traction member, said tractionmemb'erhaving ahead extending beyond said housing, means removably mounted exteriorsaid housing engaging said head to limit rotation of said. tractionmember, and access apertures formed in the front and rear of saidhousing, the diameter of. said. apertures being, less than. the width ofsaidtraction zone, said apertures being alinedwiththeilowerl portion ofsaid zone-and. the upper portion of said-rollermember for guiding a tiewire into said housingbetwen said zone and said roller member:

2'. Clamping means adapted foruse with a form tie wire comprising ahollow housing, a roller member, atraction member,. said members beingpositioned within: said housing in super posed parallel relation: withsaid traction. me ber overlying: said roller member and being verticallyslidable and rotatably supported by the sides of said housing; saidtraction member: being provided with a central corrugated traction zoneand oppositeuncorrugated end portions adjacent said sides, a followerwithin said housing overlying said traction member and slidable in saidhousing; said follower'ha'vingan upper hori Zontal seat'and a pair ofspaced depending. legs, said" legs being respectively seated on saidtraction member end portions outwardly from said central zone, thrustmeans adjustably' engaging the top of said housing and extending throughsaid top for abutmentwith said follower seat to force said follower intoengagement with said traction member, said tractionmember having a headextending'beyond said housing, and access apertures formed in the frontand rear of said housing, the diameter of said apertures being less thanthe width of said traction zone and alin'ed with the lower portion ofsaid zone and the upper portion of said roller member for guiding a tiewire into said housing. between said zone and'said roller member.

3. Clamping means adapted for use with a form tie wire comprising. ahollow housing; a roller member, atract-ion member, said members beingpositioned within said housing in superposed'parallel relation with.said traction member overlying said. roller member andbeiiug verticallyslidable and rotatably supported by the sides of said housing, saidtraction. member being provided with a central corrugated traction zoneand opposite uncorrugated endportions adjacent said sides, afollowerwithin said housing over lying said traction member and slidable in saidhousing, said follower havingan upper horizontal seat and a pair ofspaced depending legs, said legs being respectively seated on saidtraction member end portions outwardly from said central zcne thrustmeansi adjustably enga the top of said housing andextending through saidtop abutment with said follower seat to force said follower intoengagement with said traction member, said traction member having a headextending beyond said housing.

4. Clamping means adapted for use with a form tie wire comprising ahollow housing having opposite slots in its sides, a cylindrical rollermember, a cylindrical traction member, said members being positionedwithin said housing and having end portions of reduced size slidably androtatably supported by the slots in the sides of said housing, saidtraction member being provided with a corrugated traction zone, afollower within said housing perpendicular to one of said rotatablemembers and slidable in said housing, said follower having a seat andspaced legs extending from said seat, said legs being respectivelyseated on said one rotatable member, thrust means adjustably engagingsaid housing 6 and extending into abutment with said follower seat toforce said follower into engagement with said one rotatable member.

PATRICK JOSEPH CORCORAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 598,527 Michael Feb. 8, 18982,433,477 OQuinn et al. Dec. 30, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 365,150 Germany Dec. 9, 1922

